Authors note: Okay, chapter 12. This ones a little shorter than the last few chapters. It's all starting to come together now I think. Oh and the "attention span of a maggot on dope" thing, it's something my dad said to me other day which I thought was quite appropriate Enjoy!
Chapter 12 – Re-Briefing
Elena's bewildered stare seemed to make Reno angry.
"Oh Elena, did I not just say I wasn't proud of what I did? But right now, I am. I'm a Turk and I enjoy it. You act so weak Elena. You're never gonna get anywhere acting like that."
Elena was shocked. Then she remembered. This was Reno. The person she had spent the last 24 hours with wasn't. Well, it was good while it lasted…
"Sorry, Reno."
"Sorry?" He looked at her.
"Maybe I shouldn't be in the Turks."
"What?"
"I guess I'm just not cut out for it." She looked at him sadly.
"Hey, I can't go back to being the rookie again!" he said, shocked
"Well Tseng said I needed to be strong, in every way, and …"
"You talk too much. You really listened to what Tseng told you? Just be yourself, don't take it too seriously."
"Reno? We have people's lives in our hands as we speak." He looked at her, puzzled. "Do you actually remember anything we talked about?"
"When?"
"Yesterday, about Claudia." He was lost
"Oh right. Yeah."
"Well you were a bit more enthusiastic about it last night. Do you remember…anything that happened last night?"
"Erm. I don't know."
"Claudia needs to be killed remember?"
"Oh right yeah. I vaguely remember Tseng saying something about that."
"You have the attention span of a maggot on dope, you know that?" she couldn't help but laugh at his bemused expression. At that moment, Reno's cell phone staring ringing.
"Yeah? Oh. Fine. Yes thank-you." He seemed to be trying to be polite to his boss, "What? Now? Elena too. Fucking hell. No, no fucking problem at all. I'll short temper you in a minute…"
"Well?" Elena said, smiling.
"We gotta report to Tseng. Now." He sighed, "Well, come on." He indicated the door.
"Aren't going to change first?"
"No." he looked at her as thought the answer to this question was obvious.
She sighed and followed him out of the door.
"Good morning, Reno." Tseng greeted him as he walked first through the door. Ignoring him, he walked straight into the room and collapsed onto the couch. Tseng shrugged.
"Morning Elena."
"Hey."
"What's up with him?" he pointed behind him at where Reno was.
"Not a clue. I think he needs a re-briefing."
"What, the lat mission?"
"Yeah, he can't remember anything. He's back to his old self again. Unfortunately." she added quietly.
"Sorry?" Tseng looked at her.
"Nothing." She smiled.
"Reno? If you're still alive, sit up and listen." Tseng said sharply. Reno moaned loudly and sat up.
"Okay, first. This mission. You failed to either kill or kidnap Claudia. An attempted murder of a Turks counts as another offence in my eyes. I want her dead. This time we'll do it properly." He handed Reno a file. "And this time, read it."
"Right, you want us to do this now right?" he sighed.
"Yes. But before you go…" He put something in Reno's hand. He looked down to see the watch that his short temper had caused him to destroy a few days earlier. It was fixed.
"You'll be needing it." Tseng smiled.
